Lexington Shoplifting Lawyer

Consequences Of Shoplifting Convictions In The State Of Kentucky

The state of Kentucky doles out some severe criminal penalties to people who steal goods from retailers within its borders. Convictions for offenses of this nature almost always result in hefty fines and prison or jail time. The specific nature of each convict’s punishment depends on the severity of their shoplifting crime. The punishments are as follows:

• Class A misdemeanors: Between 90 days and 12 months in county jail as well as a fine of up to $500
• Class D felonies: Between one and five years in prison as well as a fine of up to $10,000
• Class C felonies: Between five and 10 years in prison as well as a fine of up to $10,000

Of course, when the state of Kentucky convicts an individual of a criminal charge of this nature, it doesn’t just send them to jail and make them pay a fine. It also hands them a permanent criminal record. People with criminal records in the Bluegrass State can experience a wide range of collateral consequences to their actions, such as:

• Difficulty landing a job: Businesses in the state of Kentucky tend to shy away from hiring people with criminal records.
• Professional licensing problems: Professional licensing boards in Kentucky often turn down applications from convicted criminals.
• Struggles finding housing: Landlords in the Lexington area prefer to avoid renting homes to felons and other convicted criminals.
• Difficulty in obtaining student loans: The federal government is not in the habit of issuing student loans to convicted felons.
• Loss of gun ownership rights: Kentuckians lose the right to carry, own, buy and use firearms when a court convicts them of a felony.
• Immigration issues: Deportation can occur for noncitizen felons after they serve out their prison sentences.
• Loss of privacy: The friends and colleagues of convicted criminals can quickly find out more about their past by performing a cursory online search.
• Harsher future punishments: Convicted criminals in the state of Kentucky tend to get penalized much more severely when they get into trouble with the law again in the future.

In most instances, the only way a convict can stop enduring the collateral consequences outlined above is to get their criminal record expunged.

Pretrial Diversion: An Alternative To Criminal Conviction

First-time, low-level criminals do not always have to go through the penal system in Kentucky. The state offers a pretrial diversion program to these individuals. The purpose of this program is to rehabilitate the offender without having to send them to jail. Those who choose to enroll in a pretrial diversion program must generally:

• Make restitution to their victim or victims
• Complete a period of community service, and
• Attend a state-approved rehabilitation class

When offenders complete the program, the state drops all charges levied against them. They do not go to jail or receive a criminal record. I have been helping Lexington residents enroll in pretrial diversion programs and escape the negative consequences of shoplifting convictions for years. If you would like for me to represent you in your legal battle, please give Oakley & Oakley, LLC, a call today.

Defenses Against Shoplifting Charges In Kentucky

Getting arrested for shoplifting in Lexington can be a scary and somewhat embarrassing experience. However, it is far from inevitable that a charge of this nature will become a conviction. There are a number of defense strategies that can be asserted in criminal shoplifting cases. These include:

Lack of Evidence

To convict someone of shoplifting in Kentucky, the state has to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. To achieve this goal, prosecutors usually present the court with evidence like:

• Witness testimony
• Surveillance footage
• GPS data

When defense attorneys argue that the prosecutor does not have enough evidentiary materials to meet their burden of proof, they are often able to convince the jury to acquit their clients.

• Coercion: It is, unfortunately, not uncommon for violent individuals to force innocent people to steal objects on their behalf. When a defense attorney can prove that their client only broke the law because they were subject to violence or the threat of violence, they can usually get the case thrown out.
• Lack of intent: To be guilty of shoplifting in the state of Kentucky, an individual must take an item with the intention of benefiting themselves or depriving its owner of its use. It is not illegal for Lexington residents to take another person’s property by mistake. When a lawyer can prove that their client did not intend to steal the property in question, they can frequently get their charges dismissed.
• Ownership of property: Police officers in the state of Kentucky make mistakes on a regular basis. When defense lawyers can prove that law enforcement officers arrested their client for shoplifting an item that they had legally purchased before walking into the store, they usually have little trouble getting their charge dropped. Would you like me to review your case and help you figure out which legal strategy is the best one for you? If so, then please give me a call today to set up a free consultation at my law office in Lexington. I am ready to stand up and fight for you.

Your Knowledgeable Lexington Shoplifting Lawyer

I have been helping the residents of Kentucky fight back against their criminal charges for years – achieving an abundance of favorable results in the process. So, if you need a seasoned Lexington shoplifting attorney to defend you, please reach out to me at Oakley & Oakley, LLC. You can reach me by phone or by sending me a brief message online.